Quotes to read when you’re fed up with work: tough yet warm words.
There are times when you just can’t stand your job—because you failed at something, don’t get along with coworkers or your boss, don’t feel any sense of fulfillment, or simply for no particular reason.
In this article, we introduce quotes you should read when you feel that way about work.
We’ve gathered quotes that offer hints for escaping those feelings of dislike, ones that encourage you by saying you’ve still got this, and ones that nudge you toward your next challenge—words that can help lighten your heart.
When work becomes unbearable, please give these a read!
- Remember these when you're unsure at work: short, powerful quotes and sayings that hit home.
- When your tension or motivation is low! Short phrases to boost your motivation
- Knowing this will surely ease your heart… Comforting words from great and famous people.
- Blow away your anxiety and doubts! Short phrases that lift your spirits and set you on a positive path.
- Heartwarming words, a single phrase gently lights up your tomorrow.
- Ghibli quotes that resonate with the heart! A collection of inspiring lines that give you strength when you’re feeling down
- A list of comforting words to soothe a tired heart: giving you the strength to face tomorrow
- Words to say to someone who’s giving their all. What are phrases that seem to truly support their effort?
- Healed in a single word… Words that blow away negative feelings and bring a smile.
- Powerful yet gentle, words that save the heart... Encouraging words that lift you up in tough times.
- [Quote of the Day] A little phrase to brighten your day!
- Moving quotes from great and famous people to remember when you want to cry your heart out
- [Quotes About Work] For those who are struggling with work and those who love it! Recommended for anyone thinking about work! A collection of famous quotes on “work.”
Quotes to Read When You’re Fed Up with Work: Tough but Warm Words (11–20)
To get 4,000 hits, based on my numbers, I’ve had to go through more than 8,000 frustrating at-bats.Ichiro (Suzuki Ichiro)
Have you ever wondered how much effort and hardship lie behind the great achievements of famous figures and stars? Here are the words of Ichiro, who holds the record of 4,000 hits combined in Japan and the U.S., talking about the reality behind that glory.
He said that behind those 4,000 hits, he experienced the frustration of failing more than 8,000 times.
Even Ichiro, who seemed to be performing so brilliantly and steadily, endured more than twice as many struggles as his results suggest.
Hearing this makes you realize that when you face difficulties at work, you can’t let yourself be easily defeated or give up—it’s a reminder to steel yourself and keep going.
So what if you failed? Learn from the failure and try again.Walt Disney
Walt Disney, who created theme parks like Disneyland and characters such as Mickey Mouse, had a tremendous impact on entertainment for generations to come.
This is a famous quote from that great entertainer, expressing how to face and overcome failure.
It tells us that what matters most about failure is learning from it, and that experience leads to new challenges and the successes that follow.
These are words to remember especially when you’re stopped in your tracks by failure—words that give you the courage to look ahead and keep moving forward.
If you’re wondering who has decided that it can’t be done, it’s yourself. Other people don’t decide that for you.Akira Takada
Akira Takata, the founder of Japanet Takata, is well known for promoting products himself as an on-air host.
Here is a famous quote from him—whose commitment to delivering truly good products is memorable—about human resolve and giving up.
It conveys that it is ultimately you who decides to give up, and that as long as you don’t give up, you can keep moving forward.
These words encourage us to avoid resignation, face forward, and take a step ahead.
It’s not that we run away because it’s hard; it becomes hard because we run away.William James
When work makes you miserable and it becomes painful, it’s only natural to want to run away.
But if you run away right away, you may end up wondering whether it was really the right choice, or whether you inconvenienced someone—ultimately leaving yourself with more pain to carry.
The philosopher William James spoke about this agony of fleeing.
If you’re suffering so much that it’s ruining your health and there truly is no way out, you should escape.
But if there’s still even a little room for improvement, sometimes it’s better to stand your ground rather than run.
When you feel like running away, it might help to remember these words and think about how you’ll feel after you run.
Never compare yourself to anyone else in this world. Doing so is an act of insulting yourself.Bill Gates
These words from Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, remind us to value ourselves.
Sometimes we start to hate our work because we can’t do it as well as someone else.
You might even think, “I’m worthless compared to that person,” but that’s the same as putting yourself down.
You are you—don’t compare yourself to others.
Even if you can’t do something, use these words as a cue to shift your mindset: decide how you’ll face your work next time in your own way.
Do the most important thing first.Peter Drucker
Peter Drucker, the Austrian management scholar who essentially invented modern management.
His words encourage us to pause and sort out what truly matters most right in front of us.
When your to-do list is overflowing and you don’t know where to start, when the confusion makes you hate your work—at times like these, it’s important to first calm the panic and organize your thoughts.
Precisely because he championed management, he understood the importance of prioritization—and that’s likely why he said what he did.
Rather than keep shouting “I hate this,” try taking a moment to compose yourself first.
Quotes to read when you’re fed up with work: tough yet warm words (21–30)
It’s not about how good a job you did, but how much heart you put into it.Mother Teresa
When we’re swamped with work every day, just scrambling to get through whatever’s in front of us, I think everyone has moments when they suddenly wonder, “Is this really okay?” At times like that, these are the words I want to remember and cherish.
They’re from Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun, who said that putting your heart into your work is what matters most.
The busier you are, the harder that may feel, but if you’re looking to break out of that cycle, why not start by gradually trying to put your heart into what you do?